Sewing thimble



April 1938- w. M. ODOM 2,113,994

SEWING THIMBLE Filed Sept. 22, 1956 III/111111111111 3 m William M Odom Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing and more particularly to thimbles.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a sewing thimble adapted to promote speedin sewing by hand and safeguard the user thereof against being injured during manipulation of the needle through the cloth or other mate-rial being sewed.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a sewing thimble adapted toprevent a needle from slipping therefrom after it has been engaged for manipulation through the material being sewed.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a sewing thimble of such construc tion that the possibility of missing the needle while sewing is reduced to the minimum.

With these and other objects in view this invention resides in certain novel features of 'construction and arrangement of elements to be hereinafter set forth in the specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims and, while the disclosure depicts my present conception of the invent-ion, the right is reserved to resort to such changes in construction as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sewing thimble constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View approxiimately on line flof Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View approximately on line 55 of Fig. l. t

This improved thimble has a tubular body 5 formed of strohg metal and open at both ends so that it may be engaged about an individuals finger and encircle the finger for an appreciable distance longitudinally thereof. The base of the body tapers towards its front end as shown in Fig. 4 in order that the thimble will fit snugly about the finger and have frictional engagement therewith to prevent turning of the thimble about the finger. Therefore the thimble will remain in its proper position about the finger when in use. A portion of the tubular body is externally thickened as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 to form a rib 6 which is of substantially U-shaped outline as shown in Fig. l and extends across the rear end and along opposite side edges of an area I which constitutes the needle engaging area of the thimble and is pitted as shown at 8 to provide a multiplioity of seats for receiving the rear end of a needle during use thereof.

in the inner side portions of the rib. Referring Pits are also formed particularly to Figs. 1, 4 and 5 it will be seen that the area 1 extends substantially the'full length of the tubular body and is of appreciable width circumferentially of the body, the surface of this area being substantially fiat both longitudinally and circumferentially of the body but disposed at a downward incline towards its front end. In View of the fact that the rib 6 only extends across the rear end and along opposite side edges of the surface area I with its ends terminating at the front end of the body, the forward end of the area I will be unobstructed and free from obstructions which Would be liable to engage the threaded rear end of a needle and prevent the needle from readily moving over the area into position for its rear end to engage in one of the pits or seats 8. The rib constitutes an abutment flange extending along the sides and the rear end of the substantially oblong needle engaging area and serves to prevent the rear end of the needle from sliding off of this area and puncturing an individuals finger should the needle fail to properly engage the pitted area 1. The fact that the surface 1 slopes towards its front end reduces likelihood of the needle engaging the front end of the tubular body or catching between the body and an individuals finger instead of making contact with the pitted surface and engaging in one of the pits.

Having thus described this invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: I

1. A thimble comprising, a tubular body open at both ends and adapted to fit about a finger, a portion of said body having a needle engaging outer surface extending longitudinally of the body partially about the same an appreciable extent and pitted to provide needle receiving seats, and a rib extending along the sides of said surface longitudinally of said body and across the rear end of the said surface and constituting a needle engaging abutment, the front end of said surface between the flanges being unobstructed whereby an end of a needle may readily move rearwardly over the surface between the flanges and engage in'a seat thereof.

2. A thimble comprising, an elongated open bodyadapted to fit about a finger and-having a portion formed with a substantially flat longitudinally extending outer surface of appreciable extent provided with needle receiving seats and an abutment flange extending across the rear end of said surface and along its opposite side edges longitudinally of the body, the front end of said surface between the ends of said flange being unobstructed to permit ready movement of a needle into engagement with the said surface.

WILLIAM M. ODOM. 

